Youth group Anakbayan together with other progressive organizations protested outside the House of Representatives, denouncing the proposals to lift Philippine economic restrictions via constitutional amendment.

“Lifting the economic restrictions would allow foreign capital to further exploit our natural resources and labor force. This movement for the further liberalization of our economy would impoverish the common Filipino, and enrich foreign companies and their local elite partners,” said Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan National Chairperson.

The youth leader stated that lifting economic restrictions is also disastrous to our environment.

“As it is, even with restrictions, foreign companies are already destroying our environment and plundering our resources, what more if we lift the restrictions?” said Crisostomo.

The youth leader also pointed out that Aquino’s anti-people policies go hand-in-hand with the lifting of economic restrictions. He also said the cha-cha is part of the requirements of the US Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

“Since Aquino stepped in as the president, all his policies helped the local elite and foreign corporations in extracting huge profits from our country while most Filipinos live in poverty. The cha-cha is also to please the United States and fulfill requirements for entry in the controversial TPPA,” said Crisostomo.

He said the US TPPA is designed to give US greater power to exploit nations in Asia and the Pacific, hand-in-hand with its military pivot to Asia.

“The TPPA means greater exploitation of the nations in the region including PH. Included in its provisions are the unbridled plunder of resources, privatization, entry of foreign goods and capital which mean further attacks on national independence and sovereignty,” he said.

Crisostomo said that “government should have tighter economic restrictions that are geared to protect the common Filipino people and the environment.”

The youth group called on to everyone to join the fight for a nationalist economy that gears forward sustainability.

“What we need is a nationalist, self-sustaining economy. We must pursue national industrialization and a genuine agrarian reform program,” Crisostomo said.